Can signs of wear be removed while keeping the character of the case? This is where a conversation about polishing starts at our Horological Underground workshop. The look of a watch is about more than shine. Flat surfaces, sharp edges, and the mix of matt and mirror finishes all matter. Using examples from our workshop,
Watch case polishing and restoration: Examples from our workshop Read More »
A good client from Germany approached us with a request to create a new case for a movement preserved from a family watch. The original gold case had long ago been melted down, while the movement itself survived, and the time had come to give it a new home. There was no time for a
After 15 years of daily wear, even a great Rolex will no longer look the way it once did. Still, some of that wear can absolutely be corrected. Can it simply be polished? Of course not. Polishing means removing metal all the way down to the deepest scratch. Street “shoe repair shops” do exactly that,
Rolex Submariner Case and Bracelet restoration: Before and After Read More »
By Gill Heavens Gill Heavens meets two talented watchmakers who are designing new, and resurrecting old, timepieces from across the county. Abraham Louis Breguet, Thomas Rudge, George Daniels, Rebecca Struthers; do these names mean anything to you? Probably not. Rolex, Omega, Tissot, Cartier; I expect these are more familiar. The latter are, I’m sure you
Time Flies – Somerset Life article September 2025 Read More »
This post is the result of a sunny photoshoot with great results plus the lovely experience of servicing a Breitling Super Ocean Chronograph and wanting to share the process with you all! This is what a typical servicing looks like – complete disassembly of the mechanism, cleaning, then assembly, lubrication, and adjustment. During the assembly
An example of case restorations that we are able to carry out at Horological Underground – Omega Flightmaster from the 1970s – a super rare and desirable vintage watch. Before restoration Overall, the watch was in really good condition besides the case body needing refinishing. Case refinishing usually falls under the label of polishing which
OMEGA Filghtmaster case sunburst restoration example (lapping machine) Read More »
This unusual watch was created by German Polosin back in 2015. The idea of ”old Russian” watches was born several years ago during German’s visit to Suzdal, a town northeast of Moscow. It is there, on the ancient monastery towers, that you can see the old Russian clock, marked not by the usual numbers, but
Review and some short advices for specially shaped mineral glass crystal cutting and polishing in a watchmaking workshop.
In Part One of this review, we look at the phenomenon of the rise in popularity of diving watches and why they are so popular nowadays. In Part Two, we formulate some lifehacks for choosing vintage ‘divers’ that look and feel good on the wrist. Part I The Modern Popularity Factor Why are watches with
French Diving Watches of the 1960’s and 70’s – PART I Read More »
Module ‘Sandwich’ Review A watch owners worst nightmare… Crashing down from the second floor, broken crystal everywhere. The Swiss Urwerk 103 is a robust and well-constructed watch but a two story fall is a long way down. The sapphire glass is shattered, a strap stud is broken, and the movement has stopped. URWERK 103 limited
